Miles Russell survives to reach U.S. Open with Charlie Woods on the bag

Miles Russell did it the hard way in more than one respect, but after playing 38 holes on Monday, June 8, at the BallenIsles Country Club in Palm Beach Gardens, he got what he came for: a spot in his first major championship, the U.S. Open, June 18-21, at the Shinnecock Hills Country Club on Long Island, New York.

Russell, with friend and future Florida State teammate Charlie Woods on his bag, shot 6-under-par 138 to make a 3-for-2 playoff, then punched his ticket with a two-putt birdie on the second playoff hole at the par-5 17th to deny Tyler Collet, a 30-year-old cub professional.

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Russell finished one shot behind another 17-year-old, amateur Giuseppe Puebla of Royal Palm Beach, in a battle of the nation’s top two junior amateur players. Russell is ranked first and Puebla is second.

Russell was cruising in each of his rounds before a disastrous hole set him back. Twice.

He was 4-under through 17 holes but triple-bogeyed the par-4 18th hole and shot 71. Russell came back in the second round with a run of four birdies in a row from Nos. 4 to 7 (he began the second round at No. 10), and grabbed the lead at 8 under.

However, he sprayed his drive at No. 8, needed three shots to reach the green, and then two-putted for double. Russell parred the ninth for a 67.

After waiting out the final groups, Russell, Cowan and Collet headed to the 18th hole. Cowan won the first hole with a par when Russell and Collet both bogeyed, leaving two players for one spot.

Russell seized it after Collet found water off the tee at No. 17. Russell split the fairway, then hit the green in two, leaving himself a 40-foot putt for an eagle. Collet dropped, had to lay up with his third shot, hit his fourth shot over the green, pitched on and made bogey. That meant Russell could win with three putts, but he needed only two.

“I don’t think it quite set in,” Russell told Golf Channel after his final putt and an embrace with Woods, the son of three-time U.S. Open champion Tiger Woods. “It’s something you dream of, and you practice for.”

Russell didn’t rule out Woods renewing the partnership at Shinnecock Hills.

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“It was awesome,” he said about walking two rounds and two playoff holes with Woods. “We kept it light. It’s kind of the first time I’ve had a buddy on the bag … I really liked it, just kind of walking down the fairway and just really not talking about golf and having a fun time.”

Russell was the highlight of numerous First Coast and South Georgia success stories in U.S. Open qualifiers across the country. Three area players won or shared first in sectionals; it was a good day for the Florida Gators and there was even a course record.

Billy Horschel of Ponte Vedra Beach played his last 14 holes at 5-under with no bogeys to post a 65 at the Springfield Country Club in Springfield, Ohio, and qualified for the Open with a tie for third, joining Dylan Wu and Nick Hardy at 7-under 137. Neal Shipley and Zach Blair tied for first at 8-under.

Horschel, a former University of Florida All-American, will play in his first U.S. Open since 2024.

Ponte Vedra resident and another former Gator, Alejandro Tosti, broke the Lambton Golf and Country Club record with a second-round 63 to finish solo second in the Canadian sectional, one shot behind Emiliano Grillo in a one-two finish for the country of Argentina.

Tosti had eight birdies in the second round and will play in his first U.S. Open.

Ben Kohles of Ponte Vedra, who won the Korn Ferry Tour’s BMW Charity Pro-Am the day before, shot 7-under 135 and tied for second in the Woodmont Country Club qualifier in Rockville, Md.

Kohles posted rounds of 65-70 to tie amateur Logan Reilly. The two finished three shots behind recent Jacksonville transplant Jackson Suber, who had 15 birdies during rounds of 65-67—132.

Carl Yuan, a native of China who lives in Jacksonville, shot 65-63—128 to tie amateur Jackson Ormond at 12-under at the Gaston Country Club in Gastonia, N.C. Yuan had only one bogey in the first round and was bogey-free in the second.

Davis Thompson of St. Simons Island, Ga., stayed out of a four-for-three playoff by winning the Lakes Golf and Country Club sectional in Westerville, Ohio. Thompson shot 66-67—133 to win by two shots. Past PGA Tour winner J.B. Holmes, 44 years old, and amateurs Vaughn Herber and Arni Sveinsson beat out amateur Sam Udovich in the playoff.

Robbie Higgins, who helped the University of North Florida to its last NCAA berth in 2024, shot 67-66―133 to tie for fourth in the qualifier at the Hawk’s Nest Golf Course in Ballground, Ga. Higgins, who birdied Nos. 13, 16 and 18 in both rounds, finished four shots behind medalist and PGA Tour veteran Chris Kirk (65-64–129). Keith Mitchell of St. Simons Island, Ga. (69-63―132) finished alone in third.